
Part V of XIII
“… Here Gus.”
“Higher Johnny.”
“This side of the Antietam commands.”
“What happened up here on 16 September?”
“There was a cannon fight.”
“A cannonading.”
“Burnside had a special artillerist.”
“A gunner.”
“A year out of West Point and future Medal of Honor awardee.”
“Go.”
“On the 16th, from the ridge behind us, this artillerist could hit Sharpsburg.”
“Sounds like Lee getting hit and Burnside knew.”
“On the 17th this battery is moved a half-mile south, near Burnside’s headquarters.”
“Burnside had his headquarters a half-mile south of the bridge, not here?”
“Correct – at a farm on the Rohrersville Road.”
“Reb, that’s closer to the fords – and more locals too.”
“Batteries L and M were here.”
“The batteries not engaged.”
“The next morning Lee is at the same spot in Sharpsburg.”
“And could surmise a meaning Johnny.”
“The message is presented in the absence.”
“The silence is the message.”
“By nine in the morning on 17 September …”
Next Up: 6 April and part VI of the series Johnny Reb and Gus Yank Somewhere: Fords.
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner